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United States Patent | 5,081,673 |
Engelke ,   et al. | January 14, 1992 |
A relay center has a first telephone line (12) and a second telephone line (14). Data signals may be carried on the first telephone line (12) and received into a modem (20). A terminal or computer (22) then receives the data signals and converts the signals into readable characters viewable on a display (26). An operator then reads messages formed by the characters and voices them into a telephone (28) connected to the second telephone (14). The operator may also receive spoken words through the telephone (28) and transcribe via a keyboard (24) for transmission of data signals by the modem (20) and carried on the first telephone line (12). Upon a command received through the first telephone line (12) or made by the operator, a voice bridge (10) may be established which establishes a direct vocal link from either the first telephone line (10) to the second telephone line (12) or from the second telephone line (12) to the first telephone line (14 ). A second command disconnects the telephone (28) from the second telephone line (14) to prevent the operator from hearing the audio sounds carried by the voice bridge (10).
Inventors: | Engelke; Robert M. (2510 Marshall Pkwy., Madison, WI 53713); Colwell; Kevin (5214 Camilla Rd., Madison, WI 53716) |
Appl. No.: | 616720 |
Filed: | November 16, 1990 |
Current U.S. Class: | 379/93.09; 379/52; 379/93.08; 379/93.17 |
Intern'l Class: | H04M 011/00 |
Field of Search: | 379/52,93,96,97,98,214 340/825.19 |
3585303 | Jun., 1971 | Chieffo | 379/52. |
3896267 | Jul., 1975 | Sachs et al. | 379/52. |
4012599 | Mar., 1977 | Meyer | 379/52. |
4191854 | Mar., 1980 | Coles | 379/52. |
4268721 | May., 1981 | Nielson et al. | 379/52. |
4426555 | Jan., 1984 | Underkoffler | 379/52. |
4503288 | Mar., 1985 | Kassler | 379/96. |
4524244 | Jun., 1985 | Faggin et al. | 379/96. |
4650927 | Mar., 1987 | James | 379/52. |
Foreign Patent Documents | |||
0055649 | Apr., 1982 | JP | 379/52. |
0134568 | Aug., 1983 | JP | 379/52. |
2183880 | Jun., 1987 | GB | 379/52. |